R 091716Z MAY 13
ALCOAST 205/13
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2013 LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC)
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
1. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE MR. ANTONIO FARIAS OF THE COAST
GUARD ACADEMY AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER LUIS MUNOZ OF CG STATION
GLOUCESTER AS THE COAST GUARD 2013 LULAC EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD
WINNERS.
2. AS THE CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, MR. FARIAS IS THE DRIVING FORCE
BEHIND INSTITUTIONALIZING AN INCLUSIVE CLIMATE AT THE COAST GUARD
ACADEMY THUS INFLUENCING THE DIVERSE COMPOSITION OF THE CADET CORPS,
FACULTY AND STAFF, AS WELL AS THE COAST GUARD WORKFORCE AS A WHOLE.
HE SINGLEHANDEDLY STOOD UP THE DIVERSITY AFFAIRS OFFICE, HELPING IT
GROW TO OVERSEE A VARIETY OF RESPONSIBILITIES WITH FAR-REACHING
IMPACTS ACROSS THE ACADEMY. ADVOCATING CIVIC AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS, MR. FARIAS CHAMPIONED ENGAGEMENT IN THE LOCAL AREA AND
ACROSS THE NATION THROUGH VARIOUS ACADEMIC AND SPORTS PROGRAMS AND
OTHER MENTORSHIP INITIATIVES. A LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVENESS
AND DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE, MR. FARIAS INITIATIVES AND
CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE ENHANCED THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE COAST GUARD
ACADEMY WHILE ADVANCING A DIVERSE AND MULTICULTURAL WORKFORCE.
3. AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF STATION GLOUCESTER, MA, CWO LUIS
MUNOZ IS RECOGNIZED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER, ROLE MODEL, AND
ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY ENCOURAGING AN ENVIRONMENT OF RESPECT AND
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY INITIATED THE
FIRST-EVER MASSACHUSETTS NORTH SHORE LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY ADVISORY
COUNCIL (LDAC), A COMBINED EFFORT BY STATION GLOUCESTER AND LOCAL
UNITS AS HE MENTORED AND CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREW MEMBERS TO
INTERACT WITH DIVERSE GROUPS OF TOP PERFORMING CG MEMBERS. HE ALSO
LED THE STATION CREW IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR A
NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. CWO MUNOZ ALSO EMBRACED OUTREACH,
EDUCATION, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE LIVES IN THE
DIVERSE FISHING COMMUNITY OF GLOUCESTER.
4. MR. FARIAS AND CWO MUNOZ WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE LULAC DIVERSITY
LUNCHEON ON 18 JUNE IN LAS VEGAS, NV. AWARD WINNERS TRAVEL TO THE
RECOGNITION CEREMONY WILL BE FUNDED AND COORDINATED BY COMDT
(CG-00H).
5. COMDT (CG-00H) ALSO SALUTES MR. LUIS AVALOS AND MR. EMILIO MERCADO
WHO WERE SINGLED OUT BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY
CIVIL RIGHTS, DIVERSITY, AND LEADERSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
6. CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAMS HELP MAXIMIZE THE COAST GUARDS OVERALL
MISSION EFFECTIVENESS BY FOSTERING A DISCRIMINATION FREE ENVIRONMENT
THROUGH RECOGNITION OF MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO
CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, MINORITY COMMUNITIES, AND
PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE) PROGRAMS. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE USCG
CIVIL RIGHTS VISION, MISSION, AWARDS PROGRAM, AND CGPIE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG00/CG00H/.
7. MS. TERRI A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.